Christmas Baking!

I spent all of Sunday doing all of my Christmas goody baking. I made 2 batches of Chocolate Chip Cookies, 2 batches of Oatmeal Raisin cookies (I snuck in some Cranraisins in them) and a batch of no-bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies, 3 batches of Banana Nut Bread and a batch of Divinity. Sadly, my Divinity didn't stiffen like it was supposed to.  Will have a remake on those. But yay on the rest! I've bagged and tagged and will begin delivery today of all the goodies. My daughter took 12 small bags of cookies to her teachers today. I'll be hand delivering a couple to friends with cookies, nut bread and gifts. Tomorrow we're going to a block party where I'll load up a plates of cookies and nut bread to take with me. I put them really pretty small serving plates I bought to give away with the cookies. I think it would be neat to give away a different colored serving plate each year. And I also put together a large tray of goodies for the folks at work. Of course I had to sing Christmas carols all day long to keep up the spirit. It was a lovely, scrumptious day!

What are your favorite Christmas goodies to bake at this time of year?

Historic Colorado Contest

The winner of this contest is Jeanne M.
Contact me at mylajackson at earthlink.net

to claim your prize!

Congratulations and Merry Christmas!

Tis the season to share gifts. Today I'm running a contest that will require just a little work on your part. Head on over to my website...don't worry, I'll post the link here...and find the two books set in the wonderful Rocky Mountain state of Colorado back in the gold rush of the 1800's. List them in the comments here on my blog for a chance to win a $20 Amazon gift certificate! I'll announce the winner on December 13th here on my blog, so check back to see if you're the winner! Now, here's the link: http://mylajackson.com/

If you think this contest is cool check out these other blogs for more Roses' Contests:

Brenna Zinn
Elle James

Shayla Kersten

Delilah Devlin

Cerise Deland

Eve Savage

Desiree Holt

Allie Standifer

Sunday Report Card

I'm pleased that I finished my Nocturne Bite (to be published under my alter-ego pen name Elle James). Then I was a slacker for the rest of the week. I should have been hard at work on my next in the Body Snatchers series I want to continue for Ellora's Cave. It just means I have to work hard this week to get that one written in just this week! Ack! I can do it! I can do it! Sometimes I feel like the Little Train that Could. And I can!

Now to find a really sexy hunk of a white-blond man for the hero of my next Body Snatcher book. His name is Torsten and he's HAWT! And my heroine, Luna, is totally KICKASS! I'm jazzed and ready to begin.

Branson Shopping

Tis the season to go shopping! My dear husband, daughter and I decided to caravan with another couple and their son to the outlet malls in Branson, Missouri. This trek is a two-hour drive if you go straight there, no stops. We made it in three hours, stopping for a hearty breakfast as Raspberry junction in Missouri. It was small, quaint and enjoyable to talk over breakfast with friends and just enjoy getting out together.

Then on to the outlet mall. That's where the real fun began. We could barely get into the parking lot because of the line of traffic and the limited parking spaces. That should have been the clue to turn and run right back home. But no, we found a way around the line and ultimately a parking place in the sea of cars.

My daughter and I are experienced shoppers (that doesn't mean I really like to) and we took the mall by storm. We were half-way around by the time our friends were a tenth of the way. We bypassed the Coach store and it's line snaking around the corner for some of the more interesting stores with far less of a wait. Inside we squeezed between aisles and people, finding the sales (snort, not that great for a recession) and made our purchases.

We did our part in helping the weak retail economy with our donation to their black line. Once we'd completed the outlet mall we headed for Branson Landing. Talk about really nice shopping. There we sat down to Linner (Lunch/Dinner combined) and ate until it hurt. Needless to say, shopping afterward was limited. We perused the shops hopping from door to door quickly as the temps had dropped and our appetites were quenched in the shopping arena. The sun set, the Christmas lights illuminated capping a beautiful day with friends.

The drive home wasn't even that bad. All in all a wonderful day, purchases made and time spent with family and friends. What more could you ask?

Excerpt: Body Snatchers by Myla Jackson

Copyright © MYLA JACKSON, 2010

All Rights Reserved, Ellora's Cave Publishing, Inc.

Chapter One

Reggie Gallagher ducked behind the last in a row of Dumpsters and braced her hands on her knees, dragging in huge gulps of air. Sweat ran down the side of her face, and the black ribbed tank top she wore clung to her breasts. The coastal humidity and heat acted like a steam bath even when she was standing still. For the moment, all she could hear was the ragged gasps of her breath wheezing in and out of her straining lungs. And despite the retched stench of the waste beside her, she welcomed the respite from the chase.

Where was Madison? She’d been right behind Reggie until now.

The quiet of the alley was broken when pounding footsteps entered and raced toward her.

Risking a stealthy glance around the hard metal corner of the Dumpster, Reggie confirmed the runner, and she reached out to snag her and pull her in beside her.

“Can’t…stop.” Madison bent low, her shoulders heaving with the effort to fill her oxygen-starved lungs.

“Breathe,” Reggie ordered, and tapped the miniature headset positioned inside her ear like a hearing aide. “Where the hell are Jordan and Mike?”

“It’s…as…if…they disappeared.” Madison sucked in air and gushed, “Ah, shit! I can’t breathe. I don’t know if those guys saw me turn down here, but they can’t be far behind.”

“Then let’s go.” Reggie shot another glance around the corner of the Dumpster. The alley was empty. She waited another second and then grabbed her sister’s hand, pulling her along behind her.

“There!” The shout of one of their pursuers echoed off the brick of the multistory structures rising up from their concrete foundations. The buildings spread over entire blocks, channeling Reggie and Madison through the worst part of Houston, leaving few places to hide or take cover. How had the mission gone south so fast? Where was their backup?
“They’ll catch us at this rate,” Madison shouted between gasps. “Gotta split up.”
“No!” But before Reggie could tighten her grip, her younger sister pulled free and swung left, sprinting west, away from the downtown area.

Reggie glanced back at the group of six men closing in behind her. If she played her hand right, they’d follow her and leave Madison alone. The fastest runner on the team at the Paranormal Investigative Agency, she could outrun every man, except perhaps the boss. Tanner was made of iron and muscles. No one could outrun, out gun or outsmart him.

But if she wanted to live, Reggie had better make it her goal to beat all of his records and then some. She just hoped the hell Madison got away.
Summoning every last ounce of energy, she punched out, running straight for two blocks to ensure the bad boys behind her wouldn’t branch off and pursue her sister. Just as she was about to veer east, a shot rang out and something hard and fast slammed against her left shoulder, spinning her around so quickly she crashed into the brick corner of an office building.
Surprise numbed the pain for the first five seconds until her heart resumed function, kicking her blood through her body and out the ragged exit wound in the front of her shoulder. Her stomach lurched, and the pale glow of the streetlamps dimmed. No. She couldn’t pass out. Not now. Have to run. Have to get farther away from Madison.

As fog crept in around her peripheral vision, Reggie rounded the corner she’d been aiming for and set off at a swift jog, her pace slowing more each time her heels hit the pavement.

No. This couldn’t happen. She would not be another one of the victims she risked her life to protect. No way would the gang members or bloodsuckers take her down as they’d done her father.
Heartless bastards! All of them.

Although Tanner said there were good vamps out there, Reggie had it firmly in her mind that the only good vampire was a dead vampire. She repeated the words like a cadence, motivating her legs to keep pumping and her feet to continue moving away from her attackers.

“The only good vampire is a—” With only half a block between her and the six men, she reached the end of the street and swung a hard right, running into a solid wall of steel. Her forehead made contact and then her chest, knocking what little air was left from her lungs. The force of the collision made her bounce backward, her head snapping up. With no air to sustain breathing and her vision blurred, the ground sucked her downward. As her knees buckled, her mouth completed her sentence. “Dead vampire.”

“I like to think of it as the living dead.” A deep voice with one of those guttural and incredibly sexy foreign accents filled her senses, and strong arms reached out to catch her before she hit the pavement.

Would you change the past?

My best bud from high school just posted a blog about time warps and changing the past. It got me thinking about my past and if I'd change it in any way.

Sometimes I dream about what would have happened had I not married at the age of 19 and gone on to join the military and traveled the world as a single 2LT. What fun that would have been. As soon as I slip into regrets for not choosing that path, I remind myself that I have two beautiful children from that marriage that I wouldn't trade for the world.

The paths we choose are what makes us who we are. It's what drives us to greater knowledge of ourselves. Hopefully we learn to make better decisions, improve our communication and negotiation skills and grow up to be better adults. Bottom line...it makes us who we are.

Today I'm happy with who I am (I could shed a few pounds and be happier, make no mistake). I know what I want in life and who I want to spend my time with. What more could I ask?

By the way the picture is me with the curly blond hair (perms were popular then) as a LT in the Army Reserves in 1987.

What about you? Do you wish you could go back and do life differently?

Check or carry-on?

As I pack my bags for a week-long trip to Phoenix, I struggle with the check or carry-on issue. Now that the airlines charge for every bag you check, it pushes people to carry their bags on board. That then leads to less of everything. Less shampoo, less hairspray, less toothpaste and then having to pack your liquids in a plastic bag and run it through the security scanners seperately. How many of you forget you bagged the liquids and left them tucked in a pocket of your carry-on until after you've already been scanned? That's me!

I'm fast at unpacking and repacking my computer. I wear slip-on shoes for easy on and off and I don't wear excessive metal in belts or jewelry that might set of the alarms. Really, traveling by air has become a big hassle. But then again, I'm not big on really long road trips, either, so I deal with the trouble and get on with it.

Essentials in my travel? My computer. I can't go a whole week without access to the internet. It makes me completely crazy. I carry notepads because on the plane I usually get some really big guy in front of me who leans his seat back as soon as the plane takes off. Can't open the computer if someone's laying in your lap. A notepad is fine for those occasions and gives me a chance to just think...about jabbing my pencil into the guy's ear that's laying in my lap. No really, I would never! But I might write a character gone off the deep end by inconsiderate air travelers.

Oh, and since I'm a writer, when I'm writing mystery or suspense, I find that I want to ask questions that aren't appropriate for air travel. Like, How would you hide something the size of an airplane while in flight? Uh. No. Not a good question to ask of the flight attendent. And lord forbid you should mention the H word. You know...the one where you're saying the short form of hello to Jack! Nope, can't ask that question. I can't even spell it in a blog for fear I'll end up on a list somewhere.

So back to the original question. Check or carry-on? Spend $25 bucks to have the airline delay your luggage or pack less and carry-on...The answer I'll leave floating out in airspace. Hopefully we won't run into it on my flight tomorrow. That and dodging geese are my greatest flying fears.

Making Progress

I spent yesterday sitting with my high school senior daughter and her tutor preparing for the ACT test. She needed help with math and science and feels "weird" about being alone with a tutor. Actually, the tutor was cute so I had no problem sitting there with my little laptop, plotting a story I hope to put straight to Kindle. My darling sister has been through all the ropes and hoops so I'm hoping to learn from her experience.

But first, I'm working this week on my third in the BOUND and TIED Series I have coming out with Samhain Publishing. Can't wait to get started. This series is based in the 1860's. The first two books take you to the mining country of Colorado. The third will bring you back east to the Mississippi River and the gambling boats. Can't wait to write Rosalyn's story. Yay! Wish me luck!

The big "O"

The best feelings are those that have no words to describe them...Michelle Hammersley

Sometimes when I'm writing a sex scene, I find it difficult to describe the feeling of the big "O". It can be different for everyone. A really good one is hard to describe and sometimes harder to achieve!

I was researching how to achieve the big "O" on the internet and found an article that said that

to men, "O" comes naturally. But for most women, they have to learn to reach "O". It's not just hitting the right spot physically, it's about reaching it both physically and mentally.

I find that to be true. Getting in the mood is important. I do it by reading something really sexy.

What do you do to get in the mood?

Birthdays and Bucket Lists

It's my birthday and I'll be busy all day and well into the evening. But it's a good time to stop and reflect on the decades gone by. Seems like the BIG ones are the birthdays that I have to take stock of what I've accomplished and what I have yet to accomplish.

Ten years ago I looked at my life and decided if I was ever going to write a book, I'd better start then or it was never going to get done. Now I'm a published author and writing full time! Amazing! I've checked several items off my BUCKET list and added a few, mostly dealing with travel and one dealing with making the NY Times best sellers list.

But all in all it's been a fantastic life so far. Can't wait to see what's coming up next!

BOUND AND TIED

I'm excited to announce the start of a new wild west series called BOUND AND TIED coming out with Samhain Publishing, starting October 26th with the release of HONOR BOUND a story set in the 1860's.

Two lonely miners in the Colorado Gold Rush and one tempting widow-turned-thief get tied in knots over each other...

When what feels right could get a man killed

Zach Braun struggles to resist his unnatural desire for his claim partner, Jake. The two rugged miners have been alone in the mountains for months, with no women. Exhilerated by the discovery of gold, they give in to their lust and discover sexual delights in each other.

A witness to seduction...

Widow Honor Whitaker, is on the run from her Indian captor, when she stumbles upon two men whose sexual activities make her want to join them. Determined to retain her independence she takes what she needs from a cabin and runs.

When a thief attempts to steal their gold, Zach and Jake aren't quite sure what to do with her, so they tie her up. They are shocked to discover their thief witnessed their sexual antics and that she was aroused by what she saw.

Together the three learn to let go of social mores and to accept what feels good as right, not the devil's work. But their newfound delight in each other might come to an end when a savage comes to claim what is his.

Watch for the next book in the series called DUTY BOUND due out in January of 2011! Jake gets his girls!

Cathryn Fox's Instinctive is out!

Instinctive: An Eternal Pleasure Novel

NAL Trade (October 6, 2009)
ISBN-10: 0451227948
ISBN-13: 978-0451227942

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Borders | IndieBound

In Fox's titillating new series we enter Serene, a supernatural playground where sexy shape shifters live behind the white picket fences...

Free spirited Jaclyn Vasenty is about to inherit a cosmetics empire, yet her scandalous personal history may ruin her chance for a corporate take-over. Saying goodbye to her naughty ways, she moves into a quaint gated community in Serene, New Hampshire. But these gates are locked at sunset...

The town's dark sensuality rocks Jaclyn's insatiable appetite to the core—and stirs desires that are... inhuman. That's because Serene is home to demons, witches, vampires, lycans, and panthers, for whom primal exploration comes naturally. Especially for shape shifter Slyck, the cunning panther who's pushing Jaclyn to the brink of erotic possibilities and making her feel wildly...feral. As tension between species rises, Jaclyn learns she must draw on all her feminine wiles and join forces with Slyck if she wants to make it out alive.

Romantic Times Magazine Review:

Fox’s tale of paranormal beings and primal exploration lurking under the surface of a quaint New England town is a winner! The strong heroine and hot panther hero are a combustible combination. This book is hot enough to steam up the windows and exciting enough that you’ll ruin your manicure.

Excerpt:

In a move that took her off guard, he caught hold of her hand and hauled her into the dark alley way between buildings. Breathing ragged, and body tense, he pinned his arms on either side of her head, caging her between him and the wall. The clean scent of his freshly showered skin reached her nostrils and she pulled it into her lungs. His seductive aroma curled through her blood, reminding her she was a libidinous woman – a libidinous woman with so very many unsated needs. Slyck touched a damp lock of her hair and searched her face.

His gaze was so dark and intense it took two locked knees to keep herself upright. The air grew ripe with the scent of her arousal. She watched the way Slyck’s nostrils flared when he caught her excited tang as it saturated the narrow alley way. His eyes closed for the briefest of seconds.

She touched his face. “What-”

He cut her off and brought his mouth closer and she could have sworn she heard him purring. “You need to get out of here.”

“Why?”

He pulled her against him. Turmoil flashed in his green eyes. “Because if you don’t, I’m going to ravish you. And I don’t think it’s in your best interest,” he said with quiet certainty.

She gulped air. “What is in my best interest?”

His lips hovered over hers, and she got a heady whiff of aged scotch. “Leave town.”

That took her by surprise, especially after the sexy voyeur game he’d played with her. She crinkled her nose, wondering what was going on. Why was he suddenly pushing her away? “You want me to leave?”

“Yes. It’s for your own good.” He pulled her in tighter, his actions contradicting his words.

“It doesn’t seem like it’s for your good,” she said, stating the obvious as his hard cock pressed into her stomach.

His nostrils flared and he growled into her mouth. “Tonight, Jaclyn. Leave tonight.”

God, the way he held her, and touched her made her feel so edgy, so out of control. She wanted him more than she ever wanted a man, which gave credence to her logic to stay away, because sleeping with him wasn’t conducive to her new image. Then again, the phone sex hadn’t helped either. But the fire that brewed between her legs, and the way her birthmark began to burn and sizzle urged her to answer the demands of her body.

Just once.

Just tonight.

Then tomorrow she’d get back on track.

She had no idea what possessed her to say it, but without censoring her thoughts she said, “But you haven’t been properly punished yet.”

His hands fisted. His jaw clenched. She could feel his heart pounding so hard against his ribcage she was sure it was going to burst wide open.

“And I’m just the girl to do it,” she added.

“Oh, fuck, Jaclyn. You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into.”

She thrust her pelvis forward. “Maybe we should be thinking about what you could be getting into yourself.”

The invitation in her voice seemed to unleash something wild inside him. His hardened expression changed and took on a resigned look. Gone was his will to push her away.

“Come with me.” He roughly shackled her arms and pulled her deeper into the alley way. A moment later she found herself cutting through the deserted park with him, taking a shortcut back to his place.

Silence hovered in the air as he guided her through his back door. They entered into the kitchen, where he reached into his cupboard and poured them both a stiff drink of scotch. Jaclyn definitely wanted something stiff. But it wasn’t scotch.

A sliver of moonlight outside the window provided sufficient light for her to see him in the dimly lit room. She shook almost uncontrollably as she watched him recap the bottle and put it away. There was something very sensual in the way he moved, she decided. He turned back to face her and pushed the glass into her hand.

“Drink,” he said.

“Thanks.” She took a small sip. As the liquid burned a path down her throat, she watched him, noting how he never once took his dark, seductive gaze from hers as he downed his shot in one gulp.

“Thirsty?” she questioned, barely able to keep her voice from shaking and her body from quaking as she hungered for him with an intensity that both scared the hell out of her, and excited her just the same.

“Yup.” He put his glass down and stalked closer. He took her glass from her and put it aside, then he grabbed her firmly by the hips and backed her up against the wall. Slyck breathed a kiss over her mouth, and surfed his lips over her cheek. “But the only thing that is going to quench my thirst is your sweet cream, Jaclyn.”

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SIS!

This blog day is dedicated to my very special and multi-talented, smart sister, DELILAH DEVLIN!!! May she always be my sister and may she always be older than me! Yay! If you don't already know Delilah, check out her website at DelilahDevlin.com. She writes the steamiest stories your little ol' heart could stand.
I grew up in her shadow, always following in her footsteps. She taught me the important things in life, like how to smoke a cigarette (I quit, thank goodness). How to throw an army boot like a pro (at the back of my brother's head) and how to have good karma (the best lesson yet!).

My sister and I began our journey as writers as a challenge back in 2000. If not for her, I'm sure I would have given up long ago. But now I'm multipublished along with her. And we have never been closer and shared as many thoughts and dreams even when we were kids. I could never have chosen a better sister and I wouldn't trade her for Brad Pitt (well maybe for Antonio Banderas...sorry, Sis!)

I sincerely hope she has a very happy birthday and that you will all share comments here to tell her happy birthday as well!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DELILAH DEVLIN!!!!

Trouble with Mitch is OUT!!!!

The last chapter in the TROUBLE series if finally out! Trouble with Mitch released last Friday at Ellora's Cave. Check it out!

This is the sequel to TROUBLE WITH HARRY and TROUBLE WITH WILL.

Caught in the crossfire of struggle to obtain the Stone of Azhi, Mitch West is inadvertently trapped in a bottle, destined to remain trapped until a woman frees him, only to bind him to her for any wish she might have.

Over protected rich girl, Amira Nassiri, receives the gift of an ancient bottle from a museum curator, she doesn't know what she has until she unleashes the magic inside. Unfortunately the magic is former-lover and skip-out, Mitch West. Not anxious to travel down the path to heartache again, all she wants is for Mitch to disappear.

When men attack her to get to the bottle, Amira is forced to rely on Mitch's help. The path leads to more adventure than one poor-little-rich girl can wish for. With Amira's help, Mitch reunites with his friends Harry and Will to lay the Stone of Azhi to rest with its rightful owner, the long dead Princess Vashti.

Trouble with Mitch Excerpt
Ellora’s Cave

He launched himself across the room, landing in the middle of the bed on top of her, but not before she tucked the phone beneath her.

"Give it to me," he said, his cock pressed between the cheeks of her ass. Saints preserve him, he wanted to grind his dick into her and take her there. She was a hell-cat with the body of an angel and his own body couldn't forget that, couldn't erase the memory of being buried deep inside her warm wetness.

But she had the phone and the way she bucked beneath him made him horny as hell and indicated she was probably still punching buttons.

Mitch eased his weight off her and flipped her over onto her back, dropping his full length on top of her to keep her knees from connecting with that swollen member he wanted to drive deep inside her. He snatched the phone from her hands and smashed it against the nightstand. The pieces fell to the floor, completely useless.

"You bastard!" Her hand connected to his cheek in another hard slap, the sound echoing against he tall ceiling.

"Maybe so, but I really didn't have any intention of harming you, but keep this up and I might change my mind." He clamped her wrists together and jerked them up over her head. "There. Now will you listen while I try to explain what the hell is going on?"

"I don't have to listen to you. You're nothing but a criminal and a liar. And if you r-rape me, my father will have you dissected, one piece at a time, starting with…" She gulped, her eyes round and luminous.

"With this?" Mitch rubbed the evidence of his arousal against her center.
Her throat muscles convulsed and she nodded. "If it's money you want…"

"I don't want your goddamn money! I just want you to listen, then I'll leave you alone and you can get on with whatever is so all-fired important."

Her lips set in a firm line and she squirmed beneath him, only making his hard-on worse.

"Will you quit moving? A man can only take so much from a beautiful woman and not lose control."

She snorted. "Yeah, right. Like you're attracted to me."

"You can't tell?" He leaned back enough to allow her a glance at his engorged cock. "I don't get that hard over just anyone."

"Bull shit!" Her back arched and she rocked beneath him, her breasts bumping against his naked chest. "You're nothing but a womanizing sleaze who lies to women to get them in bed and then takes off after scoring."

Mitch frowned. "I don't have to lie to get women in bed. They come willingly. Like you did, if I recall correctly."

"You crude bastard!" She jerked hard on her wrists. If Mitch let go, he knew he'd be slapped yet again. "You led me on."

"No, you invited me up, not the other way around."

"I know your type. You always get what you want, don't you? Then you leave."

"You don't know anything about me."

"I know enough to know, you're scum. Let me go!" She rocked back and forth, jerking on her hands to loosen them from his grip. The more she bumped him, the slower her movements and the shorter her breaths.

Mitch held tight, his body stretched over hers to keep her from gaining leverage, his one hand holding both of hers above her head. There were other things he'd like to do to her all night, but if he tried, she'd have every right to hit him up with charges of rape. Mitch had never in his life forced a woman to have sex. They usually threw themselves at him. He wasn't going to start now. But the woman beneath him had made love to him then sent her father and her bodyguards in to clean up the mess-him. "I can do this all night," he said, his voice a low croak. "But I'd prefer to talk like civilized adults."

Her brows rose. "You're the one holding me down, who's the uncivilized one here?"

"If you promise not to make a nuisance of yourself, I'll let you up." His cock chose that time to twitch. Oh hell, had she felt it? Was he up for full-blown hysterics? He didn't have time for this. He had to find out what had happened to Edie and Harry. The last he'd seen them, they were fighting for their lives and the Stone of Azhi against the evil Danorah Hakalah. Were they alive or dead? Had they managed to save the stone from her clutches? "Look, you're sexy and all, but I just don't have time to play games. Behave and listen, or I'll have to tie you up."

Amira's deep brown eyes rounded briefly, the flush of red creeping into her cheeks. Oh she had felt his cock nudging against her all right. Then her gaze narrowed into a cool, hard stare. "Okay, I'll behave and listen. Now let me up."

Mitch studied her eyes, trying to see into their dark depths to the thoughts behind them. Not a chance, her black-brown eyes were mysterious pools of ink, impossible to read. He had to trust that she would keep her word.

He let go of her hands and backed off the bed, grabbing a pillow to cover himself down there. No use advertising his arousal to her. She'd made it quite clear she wasn't interested in him for more than the one night they'd shared.

She pushed up onto her elbows and stared at the pillow covering his groin. "Okay, cowboy, you have exactly one minute to convince me I shouldn't scream my head off and shoot your ass for breaking into my apartment."

Okay so maybe this is all just wishful thinking, but....
I'm actually writing this message on Thursday March 19th. If it works the way it's supposed to, it'll post today, March 25th!!! Ellora's Cave release day! And my e-book Naked Prey should be available now. It's the 3rd book in the Altered States Series, which is a series me, my sister, Delilah Devlin, and two of our good friends dreamed up this series and had loads of fun writing it, building on it and publishing it. Also just released is the print book Fangs and Fur available now from Ellora's Cave containing Cat Scratch Fever and Sex, Lies & Vampire Hunters so you can get a little bit of wolfie love and fangilious lovin'!

Now, why would I be posting on Thursday the 19th what I wanted to say on Wednesday the 25th? Because I'm on vacation! That's right, I'm in the mountains of Colorado, hopefully skiing the snowy slopes of Winterpark. So while you're reading Naked Prey, set in the swamps of Florida and the wilds of Texas, you can think of me shooshing down the slopes, or drinking hot toddies in front of a fireplace, enjoying the last of the winter before Spring melts the snows away!

Enjoy!

One on One by Cathryn Fox

One of my Allure Author compatriots has a new book out and it's got a HOT cover! Check it out!

Samhain Publishing
February 3, 2009
ISBN: 978-1605043760
Genre: Contemporary Romance
e-Book

Buy link:http://www.mybookstoreandmore.com/shop/product.da/one-on-one

It was just a sexy game. Then things went south…

Taylor Dayton has been holding back a secret from her best friend, firefighter Christian Bain: he’s the only man who can douse the flames inside her. It’s time he noticed her as more than an ice cream and movie pal. What better way to melt the blinders from his eyes than propose an irresistibly sexy grooming session?

Christian can hardly believe the woman from his erotic dreams has just issued a siren call no red-blooded male can resist. He’ll give her what she wants, and when he’s done with her, she’ll need more than a fire hose to cool her down.

When their little game leads them to discover their secret fetishes and fantasies, they realize that this sexy seduction is no longer just a game.

This time, it’s for keeps.

I loved this friends-to-lovers short story because it was written in a fun, quirky sense that had me smiling through most of it. The sex scenes were intense and erotic while also carrying forward that sense of fun and adventure...That made the relationship work on so many levels. I highly recommend One on One for anyone looking for a sexy fun short read to warm your body and soul!
~ The Romance Studio, 5 Hearts

Excerpt:

“Okay, what do I have to do to get Christian to look at me like that?” Taylor Dayton asked her two friends as they all sat around The Hose, the local watering hole where the firefighters from Station 419 gathered for a nightly game of eight ball.

Megan, Taylor’s friend and coworker at Chez Frontenac, the finest French restaurant in Chicago, twisted sideways and shot hunky firefighter Christian Bain a glance.

With his stance casual and his body language confident, Christian’s eyes filled with lust as he perused one of the regulars who’d just sensuously sidled up to him, her body conveying without words what she wanted to do with his hose.

Megan arched a brow. “He’s a real hottie, isn’t he?”

As Taylor acknowledged the flare of desire deep between her legs, she said, “Oh yeah, he’s hot all right. Hot enough to set off the smoke detectors in our apartment complex.” Taylor took a much-needed sip of her strawberry daiquiri hoping the cool drink would help tamp down the passion rising in her. Waving her hand in front of her face, she continued with her litany of why Christian was so damn hot. “Honestly, it’s hell living next door to him sometimes.”

“How so?” Megan asked.

Taylor angled her head for a better view. No two ways about it, the guy was downright scrumptious. Her gaze raced over him, taking in his roguish good looks and virility before stopping to linger at the apex between his legs. She took a brief luxurious moment to conjure up the image of those muscular legs entwined with hers. The mere thought of it had her body reacting with urgent demands.

With his seductive blue eyes, sun-kissed blond hair, and strong, athletic body, the guy was all rolled up into one perfect package designed for sex, sin and seduction.

As languorous warmth stole through her, Taylor blew out an agonized breath. “Christian’s a regular carnival attraction, the neighborhood bicycle, if you will. He has women lined up a mile long, eager to take a ride on his banana seat.”

Astute eyes trained on Taylor, Megan flashed a cocky grin. “Everyone but you, I take it.”

Under the cotton of his blue T-shirt, his striated muscles bunched and relaxed again with each easy movement. Liquid desire moved through Taylor as she studied him, taking pleasure in his every enticing shift. She also took pleasure in the way his long capable fingers slid up and down his pool cue in a smooth, fluid motion as he chatted with Miss Hot Pants. Her mind took her on an erotic journey, imagining how those fingers would feel stroking her body in a similar fashion, one part in particular, actually. As she indulged her wayward thoughts, her body quaked with excitement. An erotic whimper bubbled in the depths of her throat.

Damn, he was yummy.

When her eyes met his, a sensuously wicked grin turned up his mouth. His smile was a little arrogant, and a whole lot sexy. Sexual longing swamped her as he fueled the flames inside her belly. Feeling suddenly feverish, she licked her dry lips. Honestly, the man oozed sex appeal like none other.

Taylor worked to compose herself. “Yeah, everyone but me,” she croaked out.

“So ask him out.” Megan tossed a salted peanut into her mouth. “What’s the big deal?”

“The big deal is it’s too late for that. We’re in the friendship zone.” She paused to do air quotes around that one word. “I’m his buddy, his pal, someone to eat chunky monkey ice cream with or watch movies with.

“Come to think of it, I haven’t been attracting a whole hell of a lot of attention from any of the guys around here lately. And those few men I have ended up between the sheets with haven’t bothered to call back for seconds.” She glanced at her friends. “Is there something wrong with me?” Toying with her ponytail, Taylor took note of her jeans and loose-fitting blouse. At twenty-nine maybe she’d skipped right over the vivacious-vixen stage and straight into grooving granny.

“No, there’s nothing wrong with you.” Megan gestured with a nod toward the washrooms. “Look at that cutie over there. He’s speaking to another guy right now and pointing your way. I think he’s got his hose aimed in your direction, chicky.”

Taylor glanced toward the long hallway housing the washrooms—a hallway that she’d come from minutes earlier—and took note of the guy looking her way. As far as cute went, that firefighter had it in spades, but he was no Christian Bain. Not by a long shot. Still, he looked like a guy who could get the job done. And tonight, after watching Christian work the pool table, she desperately needed the job done. Either that or she was about to spontaneously combust.

As Mr. Cute Guy moved across the room, toward her, she noticed Christian’s body language and took in his watchful eye. Gaze riveted, he leaned against the pool table and perused the action with mute interest. His brotherly instincts were kicking into high gear, no doubt. When his blue gaze flitted across her face, it triggered a craving deep inside her—a craving she knew only he could sate.

Bending forward, Mr. Cute Guy put his mouth close to her ear, his warm breath hot on her neck. Speaking in whispered words, he said, “I think you lost something.”

Oooh, a new pick-up line. How refreshing. Taylor waited to hear more, but instead of whispering sweet nothings and telling her all the naughty things he’d like to do to her later that evening, he held his hand out.

Mortified, she swallowed down the lump rising in her throat and glared at the hair net swinging from his extended fingers.

Oh hell!

“I think this fell out of your bag earlier, ma’am.”

“Thanks,” she blurted out. With little finesse she snatched the hair net and stuffed it into her pocket.

How. Totally. Frigging. Embarrassing.

After Mr. Cute Guy twisted around and made his way back across the room, Taylor threw her hands up in the air, knowing it was time to make some changes before she turned into one of those little old ladies with four hundred cats.

“Okay, girls, I’ve had it. That’s the last time a hot guy my age is going to call me ma’am.” She slammed her hands down on the table, her voice taking on a serious edge. “It’s time for drastic measures.”

TROUBLE WITH MITCH!

I'm so excited! Finally! TROUBLE WITH MITCH is on the schedule to release May 29th! And I just love the cover! Check it out. This will be the final book in the TROUBLE series and will wrap up the story of the Princess of Azhi, Harry, Will and Mitch will come together in the final battle to free the men of their Genie bottles. Yay!

Prize Giveaway!!!

I love to give away prize packages in my newsletter, but people sign up for my newsletter and don't read to find out if they won a prize! Sooooo....I'm giving away my October Newsletter prize that wasn't claimed! You might ask, what do I have to do to be entered in this contest? Easy! Go to my website, look through my books and find the hero you like best. Come back here and comment which one you like best and why. I'll chose a winner from the comments and post it here at the end of the day. Easy, right? One catch? You have to come back to the blog to find out if you won!!!! And if you did, you HAVE to contact me with a snail mail address so that I can get the prize mailed to you.

Hint, my website link is in the box to the right full of links.

New Years Resolutions Anyone?

No? Me either! Why bother making the same resolutions I made last year and didn't keep? So this year, the only resolution I'm making is not to make any New Years Resolutions like:

Lose 30 lbs - If I want to lose the weight badly enough, I'll do it with or without a resolution I'll more than likely break.

Exercise more - I started this last year in May with my dh. I'm determined to keep this up. We're walking 4.5 miles at least 5 days a week! Didn't do that because of no stinkin' resolution, no sir! May's a bit past the resolution stage.

Put out more on my writing - yeah, whatev! I decided I wanted to fit family time into this year. The writing will come as needed. Don't worry! I have things planned and I'm always open for another contract! Give me a deadline and I'll meet it!

Finish painting my house inside - This has been a 3-year project. I know that by the time I'm done painting the rooms, it'll be time to start all over! Finish? Never!

So that's my non-resolution New Year's Resolution.

Now to get to writing! Mind you, not because of any stinkin' resolution, either!

CAT SCRATCH FEVER Release Day!

Cat Scratch Fever

By Myla Jackson

Available today from Ellora’s Cave!

http://www.ellorascave.com/productpage.asp?ISBN=9781419919398

Actually, this is the second in my NYC series of otherkind. Witch’s Curse uses the same setting of Hell’s Kitchen NYC. But this is the first time you see the cat shifters there. Hope everyone enjoys it. Tom and Lilly are HOT!

Blurb

Pale and innocent Lilly Wyatt left the security of home in Georgia to follow her dream of a career on Broadway. On a dark night on the streets of New York City, her dream turns into a nightmare when she’s cornered by cougars in the heart of the city.

Black as a moonless night, Tom Black blends into shadows, prowling the streets of Hell’s Kitchen, on alert to stop trouble before humans become aware of the beasts among them. When his new neighbor falls victim to rogue cougars, he leaps to the rescue, colliding with a force capable of overcoming race, color and species. Love.

Excerpt

Tom Black prowled the streets, lurking in the shadows of the alleys, watching over the citizens and patrons of Hell's Kitchen, deep in the heart of Manhattan. Tangy flavors of Chinese, French, Thai and Greek food filled the air around him, mingling with car exhaust and cigarette smoke. Couples strolled hand in hand, laughing and talking, their voices hushed in the late-night air, the sounds of honking horns filling the gaps of silence in their conversations. In this sprawling, eclectic section of New York City, Saturday night appeared to be on its way to being normal and uneventful. But then the clock had only just struck midnight. All the Cinderellas had yet to head home. All the monsters of darkness had yet to show their ugly faces.

Although his pride had won the right to live, work and play in this part of the city, he didn't take anything for granted. Encroachers infiltrated their territory at least once a week, if not more often. Usually on busy nights like tonight. To keep the streets and tourists who ventured out at night safe, he and his people took turns patrolling the avenues, searching for rogues bent on stirring up trouble.

He scented her before he saw her, headed home from her job as a waitress at the Singing Java shop around the corner from where he stood. Her high heels tapped against the pavement, echoing off the brick and concrete buildings. She walked this route every night alone. Her pale blonde hair hung straight down her back like a curtain of silk, her ivory skin appeared almost ethereal in the light from the street lamps.

Her songs haunted his nights as she sat on the fire escape landing a floor below his apartment, plucking the strings of her guitar, her voice sweet and so pure against the grunge of the city. Every time she sang, his heart swelled with yearning for what he couldn't have. A normal life with a beautiful woman by his side. A human like Lilly. As she drew nearer, his groin tightened, the animal filling him, forcing blood to flow in a heaving rush south to fill his cock. He fought the urge to follow and stake his claim on her, to mark her as his. But Lilly was forbidden fruit to be admired for her beauty but not tasted.

Forbidden Fruit. That was Lilly and he'd do best remember that. His oil wouldn't mix with her water, no matter how sweet she was, or how pure her songs and laughter. Forget about how hard he got, or how much he wanted to plunge into her, milking the cream of her womb, making her cry out for him.

As she passed by, her gaze swung toward the shadowy alley where he stood, leaning against the side of a building.

Had he moved to draw her attention? Could she sense his need or smell his desire? His breath caught in his throat as he held steady, willing his heart rate to level, and his cock not to strain so hard against his jeans. If she came toward him, he doubted he could keep from rubbing up against her, or stop his hands from reaching out to hold her.

Her attention shifted to the street corner and she turned, disappearing out of sight.
Tom sucked a harsh breath between his teeth, filling his lungs with enough air to feed his starving brain cells. Fuck. He had it bad for his neighbor and he couldn't-no, shouldn't-do anything about it. She wasn't his type, much more…she wasn't his species.

But that didn't stop him from wanting her and imagining what a life with Lilly would be like. There would be fights over the remote control and what movie they'd watch. There would be nights sitting on the fire escape landing, watching the cars pass, just holding her hand and later, they'd lie in their bed, naked, exploring every inch of each other…
A scream penetrated his fantasy, slicing through the normal sounds of horns honking and people talking, sending adrenaline pumping through Tom's veins. What scared him was the fact the scream came from the direction Lilly had disappeared.

He leaped from the shadows and raced to the end of the street. When he turned at the corner, he couldn't see Lilly anywhere among the pedestrians walking along the sidewalks.

Partygoers only briefly looked around for the source of the woman's scream, before they hurried along their way, anxious to get off the street, out of perceived, yet unseen danger.

Where the fuck had she gone? For a brief moment, he closed his eyes and lifted his sensitive nose to the sky. He could smell the soft scent of her skin, the delicate fragrance of her hair. His eyes opened and he headed for the dark alley halfway down the street.

"Please, go away. Leave me alone." Her voice carried in the humid night air, bouncing off the tall sides of the buildings. "Please, someone help me," she cried.
Tom ground to a halt at the end of the alley, keeping to the shadows while shedding first his jeans and then his shirt. A woman gasped and hurried past. He barely noted her affronted comment, "Freak."

"Nice kitties. Please don't hurt me." Lilly stood with her back to him, surrounded by three man-sized cats with viciously long teeth bared at her. "You really don't want me for dinner. Someone at the zoo needs to be fired." These last words she said through gritted teeth.

Up until now, the rogue cougars had only darted in and out of sight. The unwritten law of the shifter kingdom was to leave the humans in ignorant bliss of their existence. These cougars crossed the lines too many times in the past few weeks and all within Hell's Kitchen territory. Now they threatened Lilly.

http://www.ellorascave.com/productpage.asp?ISBN=9781419919398